Wringer



Jan. *5,v 1943.

s. E. scHRoEDER WRINGER 2 {Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Aug. 4, 193'?` Jan. v5, 1943.

Patented Jan. 5, 1943 r reins WRINGER Simon E. Schroeder, Ripon, Wis., assignor to Barlow & Seelig Manufacturing Company, Ripon, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Original application August 4, 1937, Serial No. 157,284. Divided and this application August 29, 1941, 4Serial No. 408,729

6 Claims.

The invention relates generally to wringers of the type especially adapted for use in connection with household laundry machines, and the general aim of the invention is to provide a wringer having new and improved features of the construction for protecting the user against injury and for facilitating operative assembly and adjustment of the wringer by the user. The present application, is a division of my copending application Serial No. 157,284, filed August 4, 1937, which has become Patent No. 2,277,785, issued March 31, 1942.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved. means for mechanically disconnecting the drive to the wringer rolls when the safety release mechanism of the wringer is actuated to release the pressure between the wringer rolls.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision in a wringer embodying an upper frame section supported by a lower frame section for relative swinging movement on a horizontal axis to control the operative association of wringer rolls carried by said sections, means for driving said rolls including a reversible clutch mechanism having a manually operable clutch shifting member, and means associated with the clutch shifting memlber adapted to be extended across the path of relative swinging movement of said frame sections when a roll driving connection is I:

established through `said clutch mechanism for moving the clutch shifting member to its neutral position as the frame sections swing relatively out of the position in which the rolls are operatively associated.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view on a reduced scale through a wringer embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the wringer taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a detail of construction of the clutch disengaging mechanism and the view is taken substantially as indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the wringer on a reduced scale. the upper portions of the wringer frame being broken away to show the internal mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 2 but illustrating another position of the parts.

Fig. 6 is a vertical, Sectional view showing fragmentarily the structure at theleft-hand end of the wringer as illustrated in Fig. l, certain of the parts, however, being in other operative po-` sitions. v

While the invention is susceptibleof various modicationsi and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that' I donot thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The exemplary form of wringer illustrated in the drawings embodies a frame comprised of two relatively shiftable or movable sections, one being a lower frame section indicated generally at I9 (Fig. 1), .and the other an upper frame section designated` II. The` lower section comprises a pair of upwardlyv extending end` members or side stiles l2, i3 rigidly secured together in horizontally spaced relation in any suitable manner as by means of relatively heavy, laterally extending feed boards or tables Ill (Figs. 2 and 4). The side stiles I2 and I3 conceal part of the operating mechanism of the wringer, and one stile (in this instance the left-hand stile ldesignated I3) is enlarged to house the roll driving, mechanism generally designated i5.

The upper frame section I I is, as shown, in the form of a hollow, inverted, U-shaped shell having atransverse head portion It and depending channel-shaped arms Il and i8. The upper frame section is dimensioned to extend between the members I2 and I3 with the arms il, I8 disposed -adjacent to the inner faces of the end members. Such means as headed screws I9, extending through the arms Il, i8 into screw threaded engagement with enlarged bosses 2i! on the members l2, i3, pivotally support the upper frame section for vswinging movement about a horizontal axis. As may be seen in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the arms Il, IB extend downwardly along the members I2 and I3 to an intermediate point along the length of said members, and the side walls of said members are extended inwardly, as indicated at 2l (Figs. 1 and 6), to underlie the lower portion of the arms Il', i3, whereby to dene substantially rectangular side face openings on the frame assembly. Each of the frame sections I0 and II carries one of a pair of cooperating wringer rolls respectivelyv designated 22, 23.V The upper wringer roll 23 is supported by a shaft 24 rotatably journaled in bearings 25 which are mounted in the channels of the arms I1, I8 for relative longitudinal sliding movement.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the bearings 25 have horizontally extending ears 26 of substantial length, each arranged to be engaged by an end of a pressure or tensioning spring 21. The opposite ends of the springs bear against at faces appropriately located in the upper section. The springs are tensioned to urge the bearings outwardly with respect to the arms I1, IB, and this movement is suitably limited as by means of stop pins 28 carried by the arms I1, I8 for engagement with lugs 29 formed on the bearings 25 in spaced relation to the ears 26. The arrangement is preferably such that the lower end faces of the bearings 25 and ears 26 are normally maintained in substantial registry with the end faces of the arms I1, I8, and these faces are preferably formed substantially on an arc, as indicated at 30, having the axis of the pivots I9 as a center.

The faces of the base members I2 and I3, which oppose the arcuate faces 30, are, in part, defined by arcuate plates 3| supported by inwardly extending flanges 32 on the members I2, I3 to underlie the arcuate faces 30. The lower roller 22 is supported on a shaft 33 journaled in bearings 34 which are mounted in the end members I2, I3 below the plates 3|, the bearings being suitably supported for vertical reciprocatory movement in the end members. In the present instance, this movement is guided by upwardly extending arms 35 engaging recesses provided between downturned anges 36 (Fig. 6) on the plates 3| and vertical grooves 31 on the flanges 32. Cooperating with this structure is a guide comprising a downwardly 'extending arm 38 (Fig. 2) on the bearing arranged to extend through an aperture 39 formed in the base of a U-shaped bracket 40 carried by the sides of the end members. The means by which the vertical position of the bearings 34 and of the lower roll 22 is determined will be hereinafter described.

Means is provided for releasably maintaining the frame sections in operative relationship, that is to say, in a position in which the upper section depends from its pivots I9 with the arms I1, I8 in the same vertical plane as the end members I2, I3 and the rolls 22, 23 in operative engagement. In the present instance, this means embodies an arrangement of impositive latches which are incapable of resisting a force applied to swing the upper frame section about its axis and manipulable means releasable by the application of a relatively light force on the part of the user for maintaining the latches in holding condition. To this end, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, each arm of the upper frame section supports a latch member 4I for longitudinal reciprocatory movement. The latch members 4I are substantially identical and only one need be described.

As shown in Fig. 6, each latch member is in the form of an L-shaped stamping having an elongated arm 42 vertically disposed between the end of the bearing 25 and the end wall 43 of the arm I8. Vertical ribs 44 on the end wall guide the reciprocatory movements of the latch. The short leg 45 of the latch extends horizontally inwardlt7 from the end wall of the arm in overlying and substantially spaced relation to the bearing 25. Extending upwardly from the leg 45 is a pin 46 arranged to project through and be guidingly engaged by a portion 41 of a bracket 48 which is rigid with the head. A spring 49bearing be- 75 tween the leg 45 and the bracket portion 41 exerts a force urging the latch 4| downwardly or outwardly of its associated arm, the extent of this movement being limited by such means as a projection 50 carried by the pin 46 for engagement with the bracket portion 41.

The lower or outer end of the longer leg 42 of the latch terminates in an angular, somewhat rounded nose 5| (Fig. 2) which is engageable with a complementary recess or indentation 52 formed in an underlying portion of the plate 3|. The relationship of this engagement is such that a force, which tends to swing the upper frame section about its horizontal axis, will be eiective simultaneously to cam the noses 5I of the latches out of the recesses 52 if the force is ample to overcome the tension exerted by the relatively light springs 49. 'I'he latches 4I are, therefore, impositive in action.

To maintain the latches against release, manipulable means is provided which, in the present embodiment. comprises an elongated bar 53 (Fig. l) supported by the brackets 48 for longitudinal sliding movement relative tol the.

head. The bar is disposed to extend across the upper or free ends of the pins 46, whereby to prevent releasing movement of the latches 4I.

Resilient means, such as a spring 54 interposed between the bar 53 and one of the brackets 48, exerts a thrust on the bar to urge it toward what may be termed a normal position in which the latches are held. As best seen in Fig. 4, the bar 53, adjacent to the parts thereof engaged by the upper ends of the pins 46, is provided with elongated apertures 55 disposed and dimensioned to clear the upper ends of the pins 46 upon reciprocatory movement of the bar out of its normal position, thereby releasing the latches 4| from the holding effect of the bar.

The unlatching movement of the bar is effected by means conveniently disposed for actuation by the user of the wringer. Thus, intermediate portions of the sides of the head have elongated, longitudinally extending apertures 56 therein through which project elongated members 51. End flanges 58 on the members engage the head adjacent the apertures and limit outward movement of the members. Centrally, each member has an inwardly extending boss 59 to which one end of a bell crank lever 60 is pivotally secured as at 6I. Each bell crank lever is pivotally supported by a stud 62 depending from the head and the free ends of the bell crank levers extend transversely across the bar 53 and adjacent thereto for engagement with pins 63 carried by the bar.

Inward movement of either member 51 will swing its associated bell crank lever about its pivotal point 62 and move the bar 53 in the direction which disposes the apertures 55 above the latch pins 46. Resilient means, such as a spring 64, exerts a tension for urging the members 51 outwardly of the head. It will be evident that, due to the relatively short movement of th'e bar 53 and the sliding relationship of the bar across the upper ends of the latch pins 46, the latcliing mechanism will be released upon the imposition of a relatively light force by the user on the leverage system controlled by either member 51.

It may be desirable to provide means for preventing a return of the bar 53 to its normal position after the latches have once been released and the upper frame member swung to one side or the other of its normal vertical position. As

shown in Fig. 4, that end 65 of the bar, toward which the bar moves as it returns to its normal position (the right-hand end of the baras shown in Fig. 4), is arranged to extend or project into the adjacent end member I2 when the bar is in its normal position. This end may be pointed, or somewhat rounded, for engagement with one or the other of a pair of spaced inturned flanges 86 (which define the inner face of the member I2) when the bar 53 is retracted and the upper frame section swung in either direction from its operative position. Hence, the bar 53, after it has been moved to release the latches, is held against return to its normal latch holding position, except when the frame sections are approximately in vertical alinement. To prevent excessive swinging movement of the upper frame section, a pin 6T (Fig. 6) carried by one end of the head, adjacent to the pivot stud IB, extends therefrom into a position for engagement with fixed parts of one of the end members (in this instance the end member I3).

yWhen the upper and lower frame sections are operatively latched together, vertical movement of the lower roll 22 upwardly against the upper roll 23 will shift the upper bearings 25 away from the pins 28 against the tension of the springs 2l. The extent to which the lower bearings are shifted will determine the extent of tensioning of the springs and thusl the operative pressure imposed on the wringer rolls. Improved means is provided for conveniently effecting an adjustment of the lower roll vertically, and this means is preferably operable to shift the lower roll bearn ings from a retracted or l'owermost position upwardly by stages to a point of highest elevation, at which point the springs create the greatest pressure between the wringer rolls. This feature of the invention is covered in the parent application Serial No. 157,284, led August 4, 1937.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 6, the lower roll elevating means comprises a rock shaft 68 which extends longitudinally between the end members I2 and i3, is journaled in arms 69 integral with the U-shaped brackets 40 and extends at one end through the end member I2 for connection with a manipulating lever lll. A spaced cam 1I is mounted on the rock shaft below each of the downwardly extending arms 38 on the bearing 36 to support the bearings. Each cam has a rising cam. surface divided into three elevations, and a stop 'I2 is formed on each cam adjacent to the lowest point thereon. Figs. 2 and 5 illustrate respectively the association of the bearings with the lowest and the highest points on the cams.

It will be evident that the upward shifting movement of the lower bearing resulting from rotational movement of the rock shaft produces an upward shifting movement of the upper bearing against the tension of the springs 21. This tension, of course, increases as the lower bearings are elevated and the illustrated arrangement of cams provides a three stage selection of operative pressure.

Preferably a torsional force is imposed on the rock shaft 68 in a direction which tends to return said shaft to position the lo-wermost points on the cams in engagement with the bearings. This force is imposed by a coil spring 13 (Fig. 1) which encircles the rock shaft and is secured to one of the cams and to the end member I2. By this arrangement the lower roller 22 will be returned to its lowermost position upon swinging movement of the upper frame section when released and the frame sections may subsequently be of the roll tensioning means.

According to the present invention, means is provided for mechanically interrupting the drive to the wringer rolls whenever the latching mechanism is manipulated to release the upper wringer roll for swinging movement in either direction.

The driving mechanism I5 is of more or less conventional form and, as shown, embodies a power shaft 'M arranged to be connected with a suitable source of power, such as the wringer drive shaft of a household washing machine. Reversing gears 'I5 rotatable on the shaft 'I4 mesh with the take-off gear "I6, which is connected through a universal driving connection 'l'I with the lower wringer roll shaft 33. The reversing gears may be selectively connected with the power shaft I4 by means of a shiftable clutch element 'I8 rotatably iixed on the shaft. A wall of the end member I3 provides a bearing for a horizontal control shaft 'I9 which is manipulable by a hand lever The control shaft carries an eccentric 8I in engagement with the clutch for shifting the clutch from a neutral position (Fig. 1) to one or another of its positions of driving engagement with the gears 'I5 (see Fig. 6).

The eccentric 8l is mounted on a disk 82 1ocated in slightly spaced relation to the adjacent wall of the end member I3. Extending from the' disk toward said wall is a pair of short studs 83 positioned eccentrically of the disk in such manner that the studs are horizontally alined (see Fig, 3) below the axis of the disk when the control shaft and clutch are in the neutral positions thereof.

A plate 8e has a bifurcated end providing arms 85 (FigfB) arranged to extend between the disk 82 and the end wall and to straddle the control shaft I9 to rest upon the studs 83. The plate 84 is, as shown in Fig. 6, arcuate to dispose the upper end thereof in substantially a horizontal plane. This end extends through an aperture 86 in the inner vertical wall of the end member and terminates in a somewhat rounded nose 81 (Fig. 4). The parts are so arranged and dimensioned that, upon rotation of the control shaft 'I9 in either direction to establish one 'or the other of the driving connections, the engagement between one of the studs 83 and its associated arm 85 of the plate will force the plate upwardly to extend the nose 8l from .its neutral position, as shown in Fig. 1, across the path of swinging movementrv of the upper frame section, as shown in Fig. 6.

Lateral flanges i (which may be the end wall of the arm I8), carried by the upper frame section in spaced relation on each horizontal side of the nose, are arranged to engage the nose upon swinging movement of the -upper frame section in either direction out of its operative position. This engagement is effective to cam the plate 84 inwardly and downwardly of the end member I3 and thereby rotate the control shaft 'I9 to shift the clutch element 'I8 to its neutral position. The movements of the plate 84 may be suitably guided, as by flanges 89 on the wall of the end member I3 above the control shaft. A stop 90, carried by the plate, is positioned to engage a margin of the aperture 88 to limit the extended position of the plate through said aperture.

If desired, means may he provided for preventing unintended disengagement by the plate 8d of an established driving connection. As best shown in Figs, 3 and 6, such means, in this instance, comprises a plate 9! having an upper nat edge arranged to underlie the studs 83.` The easily assembled without further manipulation plate is supported for vertical movement by guides 92 on the adjacent wall of the end member I3. The plate has a downwardly extending leg 93 and an encircling spring 94 is interposed between the plate and the bottom wall 95 of the end member I3 to exert a relatively light upward force on the plate. When the disk 82 is rotated in either direction, during establishment of a driving connection, movement of one or the other of the studs 83 depresses the plate 9|, while elevating the clutch shifting plate 84. 'Ihe stud 83, which depresses the plate 9| when a driving connection is established, is located slightly past center with reference to the vertical plane of the control shaft axis. The upward force of the spring 94, therefore, tends t0 hold the clutch control shaft and the clutch in either position of driving engagement until a positive force is exerted to return the parts to their neutral positions.

- In considering the operation of the present device, it will be presumed that the roll driving mechanism l 5 is in its neutral position; that the upper frame section is out of alinement with the lower frame section, and that the wringer rolls are not in operative engagement. Under these conditions, the plate 84 of the mechanical clutch shifting mechanism is in its retracted position, the lower bearings 34 are resting upon the lowest points of elevation of the shifting cams 1I, and the latches 4| are free to move, since the latch holding bar 53 is held in its retracted position.

To condition the wringer for operation, the user first swings the upper frame section into vertical alinement with the lower frame section. During this movement, the latch members 4l are cammed upwardly after they move across the plates 3| until they engage the recesses 52. In this position, the latch holding bar 53 is free to return to its neutral position, in which it holds the latch members against releasing movement. 'Ihe wringer rolls are now under a relatively light operative pressure. If the user requires additional pressure, the lower bearings are elevated by manipulation of the lever 1t). A desired driving connection may then be established by movement of the clutch control lever 80 in one direction or the other, which movement extends the nose of the plate 84 across the path of swinging movement of the upper frame section.

Should the user, as in the case of an emergency, wish to release the operative pressure between the wringer rolls, it is only necessary to exert a slight inward force on either one of the members 51. This movement reciprocates the latch holding bar 53 to release the latches. A force applied to swing the upper frame section in either direction from its operative position will cam the latches 4l out of their interengagement with the lower frame section. Should the wringer rolls be in operation at the time the bar 53 moves to release the latches, the rotative movement of the rolls will eilect the swinging movement of the upper frame section. As the wringer rolls move out of engagement, the spring 'I3 on the rock shaft 68 rotates said shaft to permit the lower roll to return to its lowermost position. If the upper frame is unlatched while a driving connection to the wringer rolls is established, the swinging movement of the upper frame section will, through engageand improved wringer structure has been provided which is of relatively simple construction, is eilicient in operation, and embodies factors of unusual convenience and complete safety to the user thereof. The safety release mechanism, by which the wringer is rendered completely inoperative, is responsive to a relatively light touch or a thrust by the user against the members 51. Reassembly of the Wringer structure into its operative condition is a simple and easily performed process, and the tension on the wringer rolls may be quickly adjusted by movement of a lever.

Cross reference is hereby made to my cepending application Serial No. 54,282, filed December 13, 1935, and to my Patent No. Re. 21,895, dated September 2, 1941.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wringer having, in combination, a lower frame section, a U-shaped upper frame section having depending arms, means for pivotally mounting said upper section on said lower section for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, means for releasably latching said sections together in vertical alinement, wringer rolls mounted in said sections for cooperative engagement and having spring means for maintaining said rolls under pressure when said frame sections are latched together, means for driving one of said rolls including a reversing clutch mechanism in the lower section and a shifting member oscillatable about a horizontal axis for selecting the direction of drive, a plate having an arcuate nose adapted to be extended in a horizontal plane into the path of swinging movement of the adjacent arm, said plate being arcuate to extend to said shifting member, and eccentric means on said shifting member engageable with the end of the plate opposite said nose to move the plate and extend the nose when the clutch mechanism is operatively engaged by oscillation of said shifting member and for returning said shifting member to neutral position when said nose is engaged by the adjacent arm in the swinging movement of said upper section.

2. A wringer having, in combination with pivotally related frame sections, cooperative rolls mounted therein, and means for placing said rolls under pressure in one position of said frame sections, releasable means for maintaining said frame sections in said one position, driving means for said rolls including a reversing clutch mechanism having a rotatable control shaft, an elongated member extending generally perpendicularly from said shaft to a point adjacent and generally perpendicular to the path of relative movement of said frame sections, eccentric means on said shaft positioned to extend an end of said elongated member across said path when said shaft is rocked to establish either roll driving connection, the relatively movable one of said frame sections being adapted durinfr movement to engage the extended end of said elongated member and actuate it to rock said shaft to its neutral position.

3. A wringer having, in combination with pivotally related frame sections, cooperative rolls mounted therein, and means for placing said rolls under pressure in one position of said frame sections, releasable means for maintaining said frame sections in said one position, driving means for said rolls including a clutch having an actua-ting shaft, a shiftable member directly connected with said shaft to be extended by the rotary movement thereof into the path of relative movement of the frame sections when said shaft is rotated out of its neutral position, the extended end of said member being adapted for actuation by relative movement of said frame sections to exert a force on said actuation shaft for returning it to its neutral position, and means for exerting a force yieldably resisting return movement of said actuating shaft to its neutral position.

4. A wringer having, in combination with pivotally related frame sections, cooperative rolls mounted therein, and means for placing said rolls under pressure in one position of said frame sections, releasable means for maintaining said frame sections in said one position, driving means for said rolls including a clutch having an actuating shaft directly manipulable by the operator, a, shiftable member adapted to be extended by the actuation of said shaft into the path of relative swinging movement of the frame sections, and eccentric means on said shaft directly engageable by said shiftable member to rotate said shaft to a position in which said clutch is neutral when said shiftable member is shifted by the relative swinging movement of said frame sections.

5. A wringer having, in combination with a frame embodying relatively movable sections, wringer rolls supported by said frame, and means for placing said rolls under pressure when said frame sections are operatively lrelated, quick release means for retaining said sections so related, roll driving means including drive disconnecting and reversing mechanism, a shiftable member, and means directly connecting said shiftable member with said mechanism for movement thereby into the path of relative movement of said frame sections when the roll drive through said mechanism is established, the shiftable member when so extended being reversely moved by the relative movement of said frame sections when the quick release means is actuated, the direct connecting means being arranged to transmit force from the moving frame section to return said mechanism to its disconnected position.

6. A wringer having, in combination with a frame embodying relatively movable sections, wringer rolls supported by said frame, means for placing said rolls under pressure when the frame sections are operatively related, and quick release means for retaining said sections so related, of roll driving means including a clutch having an actuating shaft, an elongated member having one end disposed adjacent to said shaft. said member being shiftable into and out of the path of relative movement of said frame sections, and eccentric means on said shaft engageable upon rotation thereof in either direction from a neutral position with the adjacent end of said member to shift said member into said path, the relative movement of said frame sections being effective upon engagement with the extended end of said member to force said member against said eccentric means and returnsaid shaft to its neutral position.

SIMON E. SCHROEDER. 

